New Mets Mets continue to keep tabs on Astros Ace Justin Verlander

The New York Mets are keeping a close eye on Houston Astros ace Justin Verlander.

The Mets are incredibly invested in Verlander, especially from a financial standpoint.

According to MLB insider Bob Nightengale of USA Today, New York is closely monitoring Verlander’s health as he has a vesting option for the 2025 MLB season if he reaches 140 innings pitched.

Of course, that remains up in the air since the right-hander started the season on the injured list and is currently back on the IL. In fact, he made 10 starts this year and pitched 57 innings. He may very well not reach 140 innings.

This is important because the 2025 vesting option is $35 million and the Mets are responsible for half of that, $17.5 million.

“The New York Mets are closely monitoring the health of Astros ace Justin Verlander, who is back on the injured list and at risk of not pitching 140 innings,” Nightengale writes. “He has only pitched 57 innings in 10 starts this season.

“If Verlander reaches 140 innings, his $35 million player option for 2025 vests and the Mets must pay $17.5 million for it.

“If he doesn’t, they’re off the hook.”

What’s interesting about Verlander’s situation is that there is a slim but nonetheless very real possibility that the Astros will trade him at this year’s MLB trade deadline on July 30.

Houston has played disappointing baseball this season and a playoff spot is far from guaranteed. They could turn the aging veteran into a needy contender, dump his salary and start their almost non-existent farm system in one fell swoop.

When the idea of ​​trading franchise icon and third baseman Alex Bregman entered the public sphere, so did the conversation about moving Verlander, a starter without whom the team survived most of the season , must also take place.